How will patient data be used?

Existing data will be brought together to support decision making and operational use of data, ensuring that all key information is available to a clinician delivering care or an administrator planning a clinic. It will also be used for analysing activity, auditing quality, planning service delivery, and service analysis to improve patient outcomes. 

For example, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has used the software to transform how they plan for elective surgery which is saving theatre planners over three hours per week and allowing the trust to perform up to 10% more surgeries. The software brings all the relevant information into one place and makes it much easier for staff to schedule theatre work. 

A national tool available to NHS Trusts combines historic A&E admissions data with variations such as seasonality, weather and public holidays, to provide forecasts of expected A&E admissions to help Trusts prepare and plan for busy periods. The forecasts are broken down by age so that staff can plan for specific bed needs, such as for paediatric patients, ensuring that they are provided with the relevant care they require. 

For example, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust has used new software in its gynaecology department to track patients with suspected cancer through to diagnosis and first treatment, which has reduced the waiting time for a first appointment by an average of two days and cut the overall time to diagnosis. That’s two days less that patients spent worrying and waiting to find out what the next steps in their treatment will be. 

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is using software to monitor all admitted patients and assess any potential barriers to discharge. The system has freed up almost 10 hours of clinician time each week and resulted in patients going home faster, with long stays (over 21 days) falling by more than a third (36%). 

How will patient data be protected?

Information about how the privacy and confidentiality will be protected is published on our website.

Can patients opt out of sharing their data with the NHS Federated Data Platform?

Information about opt-outs and the NHS Federated Data Platform is published on our website. 

Can patients choose whether their information is accessed via the NHS Federated Data Platform for their individual care?

Information about opt-outs and the NHS Federated Data Platform is published on our website. 

Learn more about how healthcare professionals use and share patient data.